Iraq: U.S. detains four more Iraqi officials American forces in Iraq captured four top officials of Saddam Hussein's former government Wednesday, including the air defense force commander and the former head of military intelligence.

Iraq: F-15 crewman's remains identified ROANOKE, Va. -- The second of two Air Force officers killed when their F-15 went down in Iraq was identified Wednesday as a 37-year-old Virginia man who leaves behind a pregnant wife and 11-month-old son.

Iraq: Army: Soldiers stole $13.1-million in cash BAGHDAD, Iraq -- Army commanders said Wednesday that American military personnel took $13.1-million from huge caches of U.S. currency that were found by fellow soldiers in a neighborhood once home to senior Iraqi officials.

Nation in brief: Sides may reach deal to end asbestos suits Companies, insurers, unions and Democratic and Republican senators are nearing an agreement in principle to end all asbestos lawsuits and instead pay people with asbestos-related diseases from a national, privately financed trust, participants on all sides of the talks said, according to the New York Times.

Palestinian agreement keeps alive 'road map' RAMALLAH, West Bank -- Yasser Arafat and his prime minister-designate, Mahmoud Abbas, ended their bitter standoff over the composition of a new Cabinet on Wednesday, clearing the way for a Mideast peace initiative backed by Washington.

Fighting terror: U.S. forces kill suspect in aid worker's death BAGRAM, Afghanistan -- U.S. Special Forces believe they have killed the man who shot to death a Red Cross worker last month in southern Afghanistan, an army spokesman said Wednesday.

World in brief: Negotiators mum as N. Korea talks begin BEIJING -- Six months after North Korea admitted to a secret nuclear program and set off a tense standoff with the United States, the two sides sat down Wednesday with Chinese diplomats in Beijing to find a way to break the impasse.